This summer was terrifyingly hot. Many countries in the Northern Hemisphere were plagued by extreme heatwaves that broke all the records. A lot of people also suffered from the consequences of that heat – excessive rain that caused flooding and droughts that helped fires swallow up huge expanses of land.
With summer temperatures increasing every year, many pet owners are getting more and more concerned, too. This year, a lot of them were forced to consider how to keep their four-legged buddies safe during extreme heat.
The list below shows the most ingenious pet attempts to fight the heat. From licking ice cubes to hiding in fridges, pets are using many creative ways to stay cool.
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It's Kinda Hot In Turkey
Of course, when it comes to heat, pets cannot save themselves. They do need our help to manage such high temperatures.
First things first—it’s important to keep your pets inside. This is somewhat easier with cats who do not need much daily exercise. As for dogs, you’ll have to be more prepared.
Start by planning your walks. Try limiting them to 15 minutes and only go out in the morning, before the heat reaches its peak, and in the evening, when it subsides. This is especially important for short-nosed pets like French bulldogs and pugs, whose inherent difficulty breathing is made even worse by warm temperatures.
What Else To Do On A Hot Summer Day?
Audi likes pouncing mousies, but not if they're WET.
Load More Replies...This Guy In Azerbaijan Heat Didn't Want His Dogs Paws To Burn, So He Pulled Him In The Cooler
And while dogs that size can wear shoes (IF you can get them to actually walk with them on), small dogs like my 15 lb Chiweenie have feet too small for most shoes I can find!
Load More Replies...There is nothing sexier in this world than a man who is kind to animals 🥰
Good rule of 👍, if it's too hot for YOU to walk around outside with bare feet, it's WAY too hot for THEM (meaning pets) to walk around without some form of foot protection!
The pavement often gets really hot during the day, and it can damage your dog’s paws. A good way to see if that’s the case is to stand on the pavement yourself—if it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for your dog.
That is why it is best to avoid asphalt and paved walkways when taking a walk and opt for a grassy area instead. If that is not possible, you might need to invest in dog booties to protect your four-legged friend.
Hot Day
My British husband calls this position “airing their bits”. The first time I remember him saying it was when we were first married, and one of our (male, though we now have a female cat who does it) cats was laying like that in front of the A/C vent.
Load More Replies...I hope that fan is oscillating otherwise why is it pointed at a door lol
That's My Pool But Not My Dog
I doubt the dog would mind sharing.
Load More Replies...I have a husky. Once we went on vacation for 7 days and boarded him for that time. They would constantly send us photos of him to show us he was being well taken care of. They had a pool just like this and he was smack dab in it blowing bubbles with his entire snout underwater. We get home and buy him the same exact pool and he wants nothing to do with it. That's when I realized he was just a bully not letting the other dogs crowded around him in the picture enjoy themselves.
Other than the WET, you should promote him to cat.
Load More Replies...If it was my pool, I throw in a bag of ice for for the pupper to chew on and cool down their insides too.
Just be happy that you were invaded by a black dog, not a black bear. Slight difference
The pink tongue matches with the pink pool, so I guess it's legally the dog's pool now.
Love this! Once had a nearby dog who'd escaped his home for a bit return a few days later with his puppy brother. He was showing him where to find water in my dog's outside water bowl
Forgot to mention that a neighbor grabbed the older dog from our condo pond
Load More Replies...Our Puppy Loves Ice On Hot Days
My pup, Lacy, makes a run through the kitchen when she hears ice hit the floor! We call it "flyby icing!"
Staying at home can, of course, be a problem for very active dogs. Still, experts suggest to try to come up with indoor activities for your pet. This can be food puzzles, searching for hidden toys, and brushing up on or learning a new trick or two.
How We Beat The Heat In Australia. Ice Cold Can On A Warm Belly
Run this around the 4th of July as a companion ad to Coca Cola's christmas polar bears.
But it's cold in Australia then.
Load More Replies...Pro tip from Houston TX;freeze bottles of water and use them in this way as they melt. Then you get to drink the cold water.
Shop Owner Lets Stray Dogs Sleep In His Store So They Could Cool Down During Hot Weather
This looks like Turkey. From what I've read, Turks have respect for stray animals, and will look after them.
I'm going to guess Turkey. There's unfortunately a lot of stray, or "outdoor living" dogs and cats in Istanbul, for example, but they genuinely seem loved by the community and cared for in this way. It isn't always easy to acclimatise an animal that has been on the streets to living in a home, but just that little extra support to help them with their street life is amazing.
I love it! Can I order from him online?? I don't even care what I buy! I just want to support a business that helps animals!!
This is the best one just because it's something most others would never do.
Just Bought An A/C. He Sleeps All Day With His Butt Facing It
Grow a ton of fur on your bottom, and see who's laughing.
Load More Replies...When heatwaves hit, always keep water in mind. That means taking a bottle with you when going for a walk and keeping the hydration up when at home. If you have a back yard or a terrace, swap out the outside metal bowl with plastic so that they don’t get hot in the sun. You can also fill up a little pool for your pet and see if it likes to take a dip. Make sure to place it in the shade, though, to limit sun exposure.
Just Three Wieners In A Floaty On A Hot Summer Day
No, no, no, you don't understand. I don't mean just hot dogs, I mean wieners.
OMG!!! I bought a small, child-size inflatable boat for my Weiner Dog and he loves it, but he Cuteness factor of this inflatable Turtle takes the cake ❤️
The title of this picture can be taken up on so many ways sorry thats my dirty mind talking
When My Corgi Gets Hot, This Is What She Does
Our Cat Having His Tummy Fanned On A Super Hot Day
Yep. I will give you two forevers to stop doing that.
Load More Replies...We've had several Kittehs who would do this exact pose with their tail ends pointed at our window unit ACs and box fans...
You can also get a little creative when trying to help your pet cool down. Cold treats like pupsicles can help them stay cool from the inside. One can also invest in a special cooling body wrap, a vest, or a mat. Unlike fans, which are not made to cool down your pet and should not be relied on, they can provide some relief.
I Brought Her In To Cool Down. I Think She Likes It?
My brother, Audi, sits on top of the air conditioner.
Just Cooling Off During This Heat Wave
You’re the one who makes bathtime fun! Rubber Ducky, I’m awfully fond of you.
Load More Replies...What's Cooler Than Being Cool?
That's what we were going to say.
Load More Replies...Believe it or not, your pets can also get sunburnt. Pets with light short hair as well as hairless ones are the most susceptible to it. You can provide protection by applying sunscreen to the areas where the fur is light or non-existent. Typically, that is the belly, groin, nose, and ears.
The Cat In The Fridge Trying To Cool Off
Well, I had to make room for myself and didn't want the food to go bad so I ate it. You're welcome hooman.
i’m guessing I’m not the first person to mention this, but your cat is clearly a stoner.😂
»That doesn't concern you, Karen. You will now continue to close the door.«
And How Do You Spend Your Summer?
Hamster Cooling Down In Summer
Some owners think it’s a good idea to shave their dogs with thick fur when the temperatures climb as it might make it easier to cool down. However, this can be counterproductive as it exposes “virgin” skin to the sun. Instead, consult with your pet groomer and see what they would recommend for your pet’s coat.
It's Too Hot Outside
That's what you get when you take a dog from a naturally cold environment and take it to a naturally hot environment. The fur is extra thick to insulate the dog from the cold. It could be considered selfish and or possibly animal abuse to be taking animals like that and expecting them to live comfortably in a hot environment. If you took a Chihuahua up to Northern Canada Habitat just because you like the way the dog looks or the breed is it's just not fair for the animal. Just the same as if you could adopt a polar bear and expect it to be living in an outdoor pen in Columbia. I understand the appeal of a husky or other similar animals but you have to weigh your desire to have the animal against how miserable the animals gonna be in your environ Canada Canada. To be rearranging animals from their natural environment to satisfy your own desire to possess the animal is just ultimately selfish.Canada you would have to have a very thick little coat for it because they are not cold
You know that air conditioning and heater exist as well as coats right?
Load More Replies...If I had a husky or malamute, I'd get a chest freezer and install a doggie door on it so they could go in or out
Thats not really a good idea lol they would have like no air and that freezer would run 24/7
Load More Replies...It Was Pretty Hot In Korea Today
They may be a little warmer than their sparsely coated brethren, but the "doubled-coat" not only insulates from the cold, but also the heat. When they're shaved the coat is never the same, and they're more likely to freeze *and* sunburn very easily.
Load More Replies...As someone who lives with a double coated dog, shaving is actually ill advised.. Never Shave a Double Coat Many people with double-coated dogs are understandably concerned these dogs will suffer more from the heat than single-coated dogs. Some double-coated breeds come from countries that are very cold, which adds to the concern as the breed may struggle in summer. In reality, the double coat is a very clever piece of evolution that keeps a dog cool in summer and warm in winter. The outer guard hairs of the double coat act as mentioned above, and shaving them away reduces the dog's protection against sunburn, overheating and insect bites. The undercoat is dense and fluffy and sits close to the skin. It provides insulation in winter when it is thickest, but in summer, it naturally begins to shed and thin out. Removing the excess undercoat by regular grooming with a comb or slicker brush will instantly help your dog keep cooler by enabling cool air to circulate beneath the guard hair
100% true. My mom shaved my German Shepherd when I was a kid. It permanently messed up my GSD's coat :( My mom said "I was just trying to help her cool down!" My poor pup looked TERRIBLE.
Load More Replies...A Samoyed in the heat? Must be awful for that poor pup! I had one and she'd go in the creek, in winter roll in the snow!
If It's Hot And I Open My Back Door, This Happens. I Don't Even Know This Guy
This guy knows all the best places in the neighborhood for whatever he needs, whenever he needs it.
He's a cat, so of course. We are the superior species.
Load More Replies...Of course, cats and dogs are not the only pets that suffer in high temperatures. If you have a pet rabbit or guinea pig, you can wrap an ice pack in a towel and put it in their cage to rest on. You can also drench their greens you give them in water to provide more hydration or give them hydrating treats such as apple, pears, or celery.
It's Her Favorite Place To Be
That is clearly a Labrador retriever 😁 They were bred to retrieve water birds, which involves swimming out to pick them up after the hunter shoots them (the ducks).
Load More Replies...Labradors are born for the water. Fun fact; Labs actually have webbed feet for this very purpose.
I Spotted This Guy In Paris Helping His Pupper Cool Off In The 40°C Heat Wave
I am american and don't understand celsius, what is 40 degrees celsius mean? Srry just wondering
Hot Dog, Cold Pillow
Even if you take all the precautions, always keep an eye out for signs of heatstroke. Those can be anxiousness and restlessness, excessive drooling and panting when laying down, vomiting or diarrhea, abnormal gum or tongue color, unsteadiness or collapsing. Cats may also start breathing through their mouth. Rodents can get sleepy and lethargic, struggle to breathe, have fits, or fall unconscious. If you notice any combination of those, take them to the vet as soon as possible.
She Does This When It's Hot
the way she's staring dead at the camera though...
Load More Replies...See, now the soft can-opener ruined her date night.
What, Barb? Just airing my bits... And,no, you don't need to post this pic on social media.
My Cat Enjoying Shade On A Hot Summer Day
This Dog Enjoyng Pool In The Summer Heat
All in all, high temperatures are no joke, so take them seriously. And maybe snap a picture or two of your pup cooling down in the pool for our next list!
60 Lb Hot Dog
This Is Harold. He Just Discovered That Fans Are Great When It's Too Hot Out
My Friend's Puppy Got Hot On The Fourth Of July, So He Cooled Down In The Ice Chest
Adorable pupper won't fit there next year--better buy a bigger cooler!
My Golden Retriever Decided To Cool Off In The Mud While We Were Hiking. He Had Many Baths After That
Mud, mud, glorious mud, nothing quite like it for cooling a pup
Load More Replies...Yeah, cool down like an elephant. Your human will definitely appreciate...
Mud is actually an amazing heat barrier! Just watch Arnold Schwarzenegger in the first Predator movie!
“Mud, mud, glorious mud! Nothing quite like it for cooling the blood!” Anybody else know this song 🎵?
When It's Really Hot In Switzerland, And Cats Need To Cool Off As Well
How weird, the only things that come to mind when I think of Switzerland are the Matterhorn, snow, chocolate and Swiss Cheese and Army Knives.
I've been told that putting a cat's paws in ice cold water cools them down faster than anything.
There Was A Heat Wave, So I Tried To Cool Her Down With Ice Cubes. I Turned Her Into A Dino Instead
Pupper doesn't care about being a dime-sore! Pupper cares about cools!
It's So Hot Out Today
Well, you know it’s hot when a cat is soaking in a bucket of water. Usually cats hate the water
My kitty LOVES water! He likes to put his paws in the bath and wade them around - it's so cute.
Found The Cold Spot For A Nap In The Heat Of The Summer
One of my cats does this. She taught me to use the other bathroom when she is napping in her sink.
Sinks are nice and cool for sleeping, until your soft can-opener uses the porcelain litter box and wants to wash its paws.
He Can't Stand The Heat, But His Tiny Pool Makes Him Happy
The Tail-End Of Summer
I Was Overheating So Dad Cooled Me Down
I literally saw an comercial with one of these dogs in an hot dog costume including the souse on top
Load More Replies...They Say A Picture Is Worth A 1000 Words. Here's A Picture Describing Ontario's Heat Wave
"If yous tries, I swears I wills licks dat ONION!" (Onions are toxic to both cats and dogs, so please don't EVER feed onion to your Fuzzies!)
Load More Replies...There's this thing called an air conditioner. You should get one for the sake of your pet.
Because it's all natural peanut butter and storing it upside down keeps the oil in it from separating.
Load More Replies...Nothing Like A Cool Bath After A Long Day Chasing The Ball
😂 I didn't think it was possible to find a dopier dog then my friend's dog. 😂😂😂 Adorable 😍😍😍!
My Brother's Cat Didn't Enjoy The Move To Arizona Last Summer
Yes. Arizona will take your soul. I'm a native.... my soul is so gone.
Sometimes, You Just Need To Cool Down
It Was Hot In Milan Yesterday
well, to be fair to the dog, that pavement is likely going to be burning his poor paws off
This reminds me so much of my dog and myself! On hot days, he loves going into creeks or shallow rivers and laying down as far out as he can go without having to swim (he CAN swim, he just isn't very good at it and panics when he can't touch the bottom), and I'm always crouched down and perched on the edge giving him as much leash as possible. Lately I've started bringing water shoes on our hikes so I can walk down the creek with him.
Sandals for doggos on hot days when out walking would be sensible and kind and caring for your fur baby. And not out walking in the hottest part of the day.
Very Happy To Jump In The River After A Long Hot Walk
This Is How He Deals With The Heat
»When you joined your buddies for the public pool but the water feels way too cold«
When It's Very Hot But The Ice Cream Hurts Your Teeth
...and these must be called »teef« when related to cats...
Load More Replies...Ugh, I hate when something cold gets to that warm spot in your gums. Its the worst.
It depends on the icecream. veggy or joghurt ice is fine
Load More Replies...It's Really Hot At Home, So When I Opened The Fridge, Gary Jumped In And Now Refuses To Leave
Trying To Cool Down In Every Possible Way
ngl that actually looks really cold and fun so sit in. its probably a leaking drain pipe for the building right next to it
It looks more like a condensation line but still looks refreshing
Load More Replies...A Local Rescue Just Posted This Picture Of One Of Their Fosters Suffering Through The Summer
Hot Day In Ghana
Probably because a dog is in it, especially a puppy sized one
Load More Replies...My Dog And Cat. He Always Let Her Chill There During Summer. She Never Thought She Couldn't Do So Though
Toby Knows How To Keep Cool
Baby Bella Cooling Down On A Hot Day
My Hiking Buddy Stops To Cool Off A Bit
My Dog Found A Great Place To Cool Off
German Shepherd Takes Lazy Summer Afternoon Bath
My Shep hates getting wet. she will run along the waves at the beach but gods forbid she gets actually wet. Even the sprinkler is too much for her.
I feel you! My half-GSD loves the ocean and will happily wobble his way into the water whenever we take him to the dog beach. But any other water? Nope, that is LIQUID DEATH XD
Load More Replies...Shadow Enjoys Robbing A Few Licks Of My Ice Lolly On A Hot Day
Our Cat Confirming The Heat Wave In India
Kitties Sitting In The Shade
Too Hot For Windows Down In Florida
Skye Soaking Up The Last Bit Of Summer In The Lake Tahoe
Cozy Muffin. Heat Wave In Switzerland, And Only One Room Has An A/C
My Cat's Favorite Pastime During Fan Season. He Licks The Bars, Bites, And Sometimes Hits With His Paw From An Overabundance Of Feelings
This Is How She Cooled Herself Down
Moomoo Is Experiencing Her First Ever Heat Wave. She Loves Chilling In Front Of The Fan
Cooling Down Outside
Sweet Kitten Hiding From The Hot Sun On The Beach
First Hot Day This Year Calls For Sprinkler Time
My Cat Probably Spends 99% Of Summer In This Exact Position In The Shade
It Was Hot, And She Doesn't Actually Like To Swim, So She Rafts
When I had my three Goldens, only one liked to swim. The others would hang out on the steps of the pool.
Just Cooling Off
Lazy Monday From The Summer Heat
How My Dog Stays Cool On A Hot Day In Tucson At The University Of Arizona
I Bought His First Cooling Mat. Does It Count As He "Uses" It ?
This is like the dog equivalent of me sticking my foot out of the covers so that not all of me is super warm. Cool top, but warm booty.
Sometimes, He Sits There And Enjoys The Summer Breeze
🎶Blowing through the jasmine in my mind🎶 I was singing that even before I read your comment!
Load More Replies...It Is Too Hot
Charlie Isn't Loving His First Experience Of Summer Heat
Derpy Baby Laying In The Cool Bathtub
Cooling Off After A Long Walk
Cookie Cooling His Junk On The Cold Kitchen Floor
My Boy Getting A Deserved Cool Down After Long Sunday Walkies
Life Hack: Cool Your Butt Off On A Hot Day By Pressing It Against The Cold Door
Sleeping Ham. It's Super Hot At The Moment, So She Found The Coolest Place For A Snooze
poor baby. maybe freeze a water bottle or something for her. You don't want to give her a gelpack she might chew on, or ice cubes that will melt and make her bedding wet, but a frozen bottle of water could help a lot.
Surely the condensation would make the bedding wet anyway?
Load More Replies...It Was Too Hot, So He Found The Only Shade
Why would you take your dog on a hike when it's so hot his paws need protection. I saw an episode of Animal Cops where a couple called for help because their two dogs weren't coping with the heat on a long hike. One of the dogs died before help got there.
Just buy a set of PawSavers. They're specially designed pads to put on your dog's paws and don't trap heat.
Load More Replies...I live in Arizona and walk my dog by flashlight at 4:30 am because it's the coolest time to get out. We're home by 6:30 and even then it's too hot. I'll never understand why anyone would take a dog out in the heat like that.
Yep. I live in Southern California and my dogs come indoors during the hottest parts of the day. I live in a beach town so it doesn't even get THAT hot (85F max), but I'm not going to leave them out in the heat when I get to have AC XD
Load More Replies...I don't understand why on earth people take their pets out for walks in hot sun. Ridiculous even with the poor dogs feet covered.
Same for overcrowded places like theme parks, (flea) markets, fairs, etc... So much fun - yeah - not for the doggo. When (almost) too crowded for people- definitely too crowded for the doggo....
Load More Replies...Chill y'all (haha, get it?). Just because he has shoes on doesn't mean it was scorching hot. Maybe it was to protect from sharp rocks.
If I remember what I read the other day.. they lose heat from their feet. This just looks miserable and completely unecessary .
Cute critter posts are my favorite, especially when I haven't seen the pics a million times! Thank you!
I find ice blocks work quite well. Or a wet towel on the floor. Here is Western Australia it can get seriously hot
it's record heat all year! really hot for you northern hemispherers, and down here in aus its barely middle of spring and it's already 30 degrees celcius (86F for the americans). global warming :/
fellow aussies unite! it's already pretty hot in aus, i'm dreading summer (here in sydney its 30C)
Load More Replies...I get your pets are hot but please stop letting them go into tour fridge its incredibly unsanitary
Instead just take them in the shower tub or sink and get them wet
Load More Replies...Cute critter posts are my favorite, especially when I haven't seen the pics a million times! Thank you!
I find ice blocks work quite well. Or a wet towel on the floor. Here is Western Australia it can get seriously hot
it's record heat all year! really hot for you northern hemispherers, and down here in aus its barely middle of spring and it's already 30 degrees celcius (86F for the americans). global warming :/
fellow aussies unite! it's already pretty hot in aus, i'm dreading summer (here in sydney its 30C)
Load More Replies...I get your pets are hot but please stop letting them go into tour fridge its incredibly unsanitary
Instead just take them in the shower tub or sink and get them wet
Load More Replies...
